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California State University, Los Angeles

Edison Scholars | Spotlight

Two Honors College students named as first Edison Scholars

Edison International awards $1 million endowment to CSULA for scholarships

L-r: 2013 Edison Scholars Yulan Lin and Francisco Sepulveda.

Recognized for their academic excellence and their passion for the sciences, Cal State L.A.Âs senior Yulan Lin and freshman Francisco Sepulveda were selected as the first scholarship recipients of the Edison Scholars program, funded by a $1 million endowment from Edison International to the UniversityÂs Honors College.

Both Lin and Sepulveda are in CSULAÂs Honors College, a competitive interdisciplinary program for students pursuing advanced degrees. They will receive scholarship support annually until they graduate.

Lin is a chemistry major who began college at 13 through the UniversityÂs Early Entrance Program. Sepulveda is a biology major and the first in his family to attend college.

ÂThe opportunity at Cal State L.A. to interact with like-minded peers and to explore my interests in a supportive environment with great faculty has been amazing,Â said Lin.

Currently, Lin is conducting research with CSULA Professor Yong Ba and Caltech Professor Julie Kornfield. In her free time, she enjoys music, singing with the Los Angeles ChildrenÂs Chorus, and volunteering with the Saturday Conservatory of Music.

After completing her degree at CSULA, Lin hopes to travel abroad before continuing her education.

ÂIÂve always loved learning, and wanted to know more about life at the molecular level,Â said Lin. ÂAlthough IÂm not sure what I want to study in the future, I love the freedom I have to ask questions in the sciences, and the tools I am given to pursue the answers.Â

Lin also expressed her gratitude in being recognized as one of the UniversityÂs first Edison Scholars during a recent press conference held on campus at the Golden Eagle Ballroom.

ÂIt makes me feel really good to know that other people who I respect look up and notice what IÂm doing,Â said Lin.

The Edison Scholars endowment aims to provide a stable base and support for Honors College students in perpetuity. In addition to the $1 million endowment for the CSULA Edison Scholars program, Edison International has helped raise another $1 million in gifts and pledges for the Honors College.

ÂThrough EdisonÂs support, gifted CSULA Honors College students, like our first Edison Scholars Yulan and Francisco, will have the opportunity to become better leaders within their chosen STEM fields,Â said Cal State L.A. President James M. Rosser. ÂThese segments of the workforce are not only on the frontline of the strengthening economy, but also enable other industries to function at the high technological level todayÂs workforce demands.Â

Sepulveda, a 2012 graduate of Bell Gardens High School, plans to pursue a masterÂs degree in forensic science.

ÂI chose to attend CSULA because it was close to home and it has one of the best programs in criminalistics,Â he said. ÂI was always interested in science, so it was easy for me to choose a major.Â

The first two quarters at CSULA were very difficult for Sepulveda due to his financial situation.

ÂMy mom had to find a job so I would be able to pay for my education,Â he said. ÂNow, with this award, it will be easier for me to pay for school and not have to worry about being tight on money.Â

Sepulveda also commented that so far the Honors College and the Edison Scholars experience has been Âamazing.Â